Sven's stars earn stripes

The tour of the USA saw fresh talent emerge, which is good news for England ahead of Germany 2006

Euro 2005 starts today. The pity for Sven-Göran Eriksson is that it’s a women’s tournament. His England team could not be in better fettle and his own morale seemed to be brimming by the end of an unexpectedly triumphant tour of America. Not since Tomas Brolin discovered McDonald’s has a Swede gained more enjoyment from the US.

How Eriksson must wish the World Cup kicked off in Munich on June 9 2005, not June 9 2006. France are in crisis. Brazil nurse burnout fears regarding Ronaldo. Italy, Germany, Holland and Argentina remain in transition. England, meanwhile, have no worries other than the goalkeeping position. “We are one of the teams who can win the World Cup,” announced Eriksson after England ended their tour with a win over Colombia in New Jersey.

“You have to consider Germany, who are at home, Brazil and Argentina, and maybe an outsider like Holland,” he